cciv INTRODUCTION. [Prior Discoveries. 
conclusive j n natural history made there ; but to the north of Endeavour River, 
a\ 6 111 H TK S . 
the country had been seen only at a distance. The vast interior of 
this new continent was wrapped in total obscurity ; and excited, per- 
haps on that very account, full as much curiosity as did the forms of 
the shores. This part of the subject, however, will scarcely be 
thought to belong to a naval expedition ; except in so much as 
rivers and other inlets might conduce to obtaining the desired 
information. 
On a general review of the various objects in Terra Australis, to 
which investigation might be usefully directed at the commencement 
of the nineteenth century, and in which natural history, geography, 
navigation, and commerce were so much interested, the question, 
Why it should have been thought necessary to send out another 
expedition ? will no longer be asked. But rather it will be allowed 
that, instead of one, there was ample room for two or three ships ; 
each to be employed for years, and to be conducted with a zeal 
and perseverence not inferior to the examples given by the best 
navigators. 
On the arrival of His Majesty's ship Reliance in England, at the 
latter end of 1800, the charts of the new discoveries were published, 
and a plan was proposed to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks 
for completing the investigation of the coasts of Terra Australis. 
The plan was approved by that distinguished patron of science and 
useful enterprise ; it was laid before Earl Spencer, then first Lord 
Commissioner of the Admiralty ; and finally received the sanction of 
His Majesty, who was graciously pleased to direct that the voyage 
should be undertaken ; and I had the honour of being appointed to 
the command. 
